How do you clean your cycling shoes?
How do you clean your cycling shoes?
Author
Discussion

E65Ross

Original Poster:

36,729 posts

241 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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I've got 2 pairs of cycling shoes....1 set I tend to use through winter and bad weather, and another for nicer days. The trouble is, switching between the 2 shoes requires a 5-6mm saddle adjustment every time due to the "nicer" shoes having an extremely thin sole (so effectively the saddle needs to be lowered to get the same position as is with the other shoes). I've had my bike set up and I'm quite prone to ITB issues by just having the saddle a few mm too high, so I don't want to keep swapping shoes....

The nice shoes are Mavic Cosmic Ultimate II shoes (so they aren't cheap!) and want to keep them in good nick....is the best way to wash them shove them in a washing machine on a 30degree cycle shoved inside a pillow case or something? Or has anyone else got a pearl of wisdom?

Cheers

bigdom

2,357 posts

174 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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You could do, although I'd add them in with towels as they'll clang like a bd.

Personally, sink of warm water, washing up liquid, or I seem to remember David Millar swearing by shampoo, soft washing up brush, should be more than sufficient.

neil-935ql

1,256 posts

135 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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Baby wipes works a treat

gazza285

11,112 posts

237 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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Hosepipe brush and Muc-Off, clean bike, clean shoes.

Also, don't buy white shoes for XC or CX.

Steve vRS

5,391 posts

270 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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I rode in the pissing down rain in my best shoes on my best bike today as the forecast lied. Carbon wheels going downhill towards a tee junction through a river is hairy!

My shoes ended up nice and clean though!

E65Ross

Original Poster:

36,729 posts

241 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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Thanks chaps smile

BoRED S2upid

21,035 posts

269 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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Life's too short how dirty are they getting?

SteveSteveson

3,209 posts

192 months

Saturday 18th March 2017
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Another vote for Baby wipes. I use them for everything except cleaning my baby.

E65Ross

Original Poster:

36,729 posts

241 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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BoRED S2upid said:
Life's too short how dirty are they getting?
Not that dirty (I tend to use them only when it's dry) at the moment....but I'd like to keep them looking nice if I can. They're very expensive shoes....though I got very lucky....Wiggle ebay store had them in my size as a "brand new, tried on for sizing only, and returned" and with an rrp of £265 (though in my size they're around £230-240 at the moment) I got them for £116 biggrin They are really nice to wear, comfortable, extremely light and I feel that every bit of effort I put in goes to the pedal.

Maybe me being a bit of a ninny but I'd like to keep them tidy and in good nick...as whilst they didn't cost THAT much to buy, if I want to replace them, they won't be cheap...

yellowjack

18,408 posts

195 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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I've never really cleaned a pair of road shoes other than a quick wipe with wet kitchen paper.

I thought the thread might be about MTB shoes. I clean those by letting the mud dry and then 'having at them' with a big pound shop scrubbing brush out in the garden. I've certainly never put any of my bike shoes in the washing machine, just doesn't seem worth the risk or effort to me...

bagusbagus

472 posts

117 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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a pound in homebargains/ any poundshop..
I use it to clean all my running shoes as well, + I use it as degreaser for my bike as well, half a litre of spray for 1pound..+ it's fully natural.. can't beat that and shifts grease/dirt like crazy.
Actually I use that thing on almost everything..

P-Jay

11,401 posts

220 months

Monday 20th March 2017
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Mine live under a radiator in a spare room, sometimes I have to bang them together for a few mins to work out which left and right.
Still, Spring is here, I give them a 50-50 chance of becoming clean once or twice when it’s dry enough that riding removes more mud than it adds by September.

TwistingMyMelon

6,506 posts

234 months

Monday 20th March 2017
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Best way is to just wear overshoes, thick ones in winter, you can get some really thin ones as well for spring/autumn

Otherwise baby wipes or trade wipes


Craikeybaby

12,065 posts

254 months

Monday 20th March 2017
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I wear waterproof socks when I'm out on my bike, so after muddy rides I just hose my legs/shoes down as I'm cleaning the bike.

Amateurish

8,274 posts

251 months

Tuesday 21st March 2017
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Pressure washer after the ride

louiebaby

10,942 posts

220 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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Steve vRS said:
I rode in the pissing down rain in my best shoes on my best bike today as the forecast lied.

My shoes ended up nice and clean though!
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's answer is "rain water".

hehe

I'm sort of lucky, in that being large of hoof, I've managed to get a couple of pairs of very nice shoes, very cheap. I think the best was some Bont Vapor S reduced to £52. I have them on Look Cleats for Velodrome use currently.

Dannbodge

2,373 posts

150 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2017
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Mine stay in overshoes until the weather is good enough.

After that they get a wipe down with leather wipes every so often.

Steve vRS

5,391 posts

270 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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Mine had another good clean last night. Why can't I just have a dry ride?

loudlashadjuster

6,403 posts

213 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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Just a quick wipe if wet/brush if dry, or a rinse through under the tap if they're really manky. This is useful for unblocking vent holes in the sole too as they can get clogged up with sock fluff, road crud etc.

Take the insoles out first though and dry them separately. Cycling shoes dry very quickly as there's often little padding.

S10GTA

13,773 posts

196 months

Friday 31st March 2017
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Finally binned mine after 7 years and more than 30k. Only cleaned them a couple of times with baby-wipes.





Think they were about 5 years overdue for the bin